Sleep Cycle Calculator

Suggested bedtimes based on 90-minute sleep cycles back from a target wake time.

Inputs

Result

Try going to bed at
21:45 / 23:15 / 00:45 / 02:15
Target wake: 07:00. 15-min fall-asleep buffer.
  • 6 cycles (9h sleep)21:45
  • 5 cycles (7.5h sleep)23:15
  • 4 cycles (6h sleep)00:45
  • 3 cycles (4.5h sleep)02:15

Step-by-step

  1. Sleep happens in ~90-minute cycles (light → deep → REM).
  2. Waking at the END of a cycle feels easier than mid-cycle.
  3. Subtract multiples of 90 min from wake time, plus 15 min to fall asleep.

How to use this calculator

  • Enter target wake time.
  • Adjust fall-asleep time if you tend to lie awake longer.
  • Pick the bedtime closest to your usual schedule.

About this calculator

Sleep happens in ~90-minute cycles. Waking at the end of a cycle (after 4.5, 6, 7.5, or 9 hours) feels less groggy than waking mid-cycle. This calculator subtracts cycles back from your wake time, accounting for the time it takes to fall asleep (typically 10-20 minutes).

Frequently asked

It's an average. Real cycles vary 70-110 minutes between people. The calculator uses the population average.

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